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The Zimbabwe Academic and Research Network (ZARNet) was established to provide ICT and e-education solutions in the academic and research sector and educational institutions.

ZARNet is thge implementing arm of the Presidential e-learning programme, a successor programme to the Computerisation Programme, launched by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe in 2012 at Chogugudza Primary School in Mashonaland East and Landa J Nkomo High in Tsholotsho in Matabeleland.

ZARNet 4-year strategic plan is to connect 4000 schools to the internet.

Portnet Software was established in 2005 and provides the full range of SAP software services and solutions in Zimbabwe and across Africa. Portnet Software (through its lead promoters) has been involved in significant SAP projects in Zimbabwe (including the Public Finance Management System) and other African countries including Nigeria and Kenya.

The acquisition provides Government of Zimbabwe (including all parastatals and state owned enterprises and private businesses) with an alternative provider of SAP solutions and services and counters the dominance of foreign owned SAP providers in Zimbabwe.

This acquisition also provides a solution to the potential risks highlighted by the Minister of ICTs, Postal and Courier Services , Hon Supa Mandiwanzira, during the E-Government conference held in Nyanga in August 2015, which included the significant security risk of allowing foreign owned SAP providers to access sensitive Government information on Zimbabwe. The minister said in mischievous hands, SAP providers could be a platform for mining economic intelligence against the country.

It is expected that, with the acquisition, Portnet Software will become the preferred provider of SAP solutions to Government (including all parastatals and state owned enterprises) and offer much needed competition in the private sector.

Portnet Software intends to expand into other African countries leveraging on its skills and the excellent political capital that Zimbabwe, through His Excellency President Robert Mugabe, enjoys across the continent.

The acquisition allows the Zimbabwe government to retain skills and jobs locally while curtailing the outflow of revenues which happens when it secures services from foreign-owned companies.

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Welcome to ZARNet

Zimbabwe Academic and Research Network (ZARNet) was formed in 1997 through the Research act of 1986, under the Research Council of Zimbabwe to provide Internet and ICT services to the academic and research sector which include kindergarten, primary and secondary schools, vocational training colleges, universities, tertiary colleges, research and government institutions, and affiliate institutions.

ZARNet operates as Zimbabwe’s National Research Education Network (NREN) by holding a special category Internet Access Provider (IAP) class A license specific to ONLY servicing the academic and research sectors. ZARNet is by virtue of this license compelled to provide services on a cost recovery basis and not on a profit making basis.